Moistening arrangement for duplicating machines



United States Patent 1 1 3,528,369 N [72] Inventor GerhardRitzerfeld, 2,067,289 1/1937 Ritzerfeld 101/132.-5 14SchorlemerAllee, 2,237,548 4/1941 Copelandetal 101/1325 QQEerlin-Dalllem, 2,377,662 6/1945 Barber 101/349 Germany 2,830,534 4/1958 Springeretal 101/1325 pP 1 2 FOREIGN PATENTS gf 'fs g 1970 387,226 2/1933 GreatBritain 101/1325 [32] Prior 1967 633,097 l/1928 France 101/1325 [33] Y 1 5 696,315 8/1953 GreatBritain 101 1325 [31] No R45y729 854,896 4/1940 France 101 1325 [54] MOISTENING ARRANGEMENT FOR DUPLlCATlNG MACHINES 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 101/1325 [51] Int.Cl B4lf7/32, B4117/08 [50] Field ofSearch 101/1325, 147,132,131,133,134.5,148;118/268 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,012,619 8/1935 Ritzerfeld 101/132.5

Primary Examiner--Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerJ. Reed Fisher AttorneyMichael S. Striker ABSTRACT: The absorbent applicator felt pad of the moistening device of a duplicating machine remains in contact withranother absorbent felt pad, which receives liquid from a container, in the inoperative as well as in the operative moistening position of the moistening device so that the liquid flows from the container through both absorbent felt pads onto the copy sheet which is being supplied to the printing means of the machine.

Patented Sept. 15, 1970 w 3,528,369

Sheet 1 of 3 Patented Sept. 15, 1970 3,528,369

Sheet g of 3 MOISTENING ARRANGEMENT FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to rotary duplicators by which imprints are made on moistened copy sheets by placing an inked master in contact with the moistened copy sheet.

Duplicators of this type require a moistening device which is movable between an inoperative position, and an operative position in which a moist felt pad is in contact with a supplied copy sheet. In some duplicating machine, the liquid is supplied by a pump to the moistening pad, which is not suitable for inexpensive machines due to the high cost of the pump. In other duplicating machines, valves are provided through which the liquid flows, which has the disadvantage that the valves are detrimentally affected by the liquid and have to be replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of known moistening arrangements for duplicating machines, and to provide a simple, efficient and inexpensive moistening arrangement which is particularly suited for small duplicators.

Another object of the invention is to provide a moistening arrangement for a duplicator which does not require a pump or valves for controlling the flow of liquid.

Another object of the invention is to conduct the liquid from a container to the copy sheet through absorbent material, such as felt.

With these objects in view, the present invention is applied to a duplicating machine which includes printing means, such as a duplicating roller carrying a master cooperating with a counterpressure roller, and means for supplying copy sheets to the printing means, for example a supply table for guiding the copy sheets to the bight between the duplicating roller and the counterpressure roller.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a container for a liquid to which a first absorbent moistening means, for example a piece of felt, is secured to receive liquid from outlets of a container, and a moistening device including a second absorbent moistening means, such as a piece of felt, and being movable between an inoperative position and a moistening position in which the second moistening means is in contact with a copy sheet.

In accordance with the invention, the first and second absorbent moistening. means are in contact with each other in the inoperative as well as in the moistening position and during movement of the moistening device so that liquid flowing through the outlets of the container, passes through the first into the second absorbent moistening means, and moistens the supplied copy sheets in the moistening position.

The moistening device is mounted for pivotal movement between the inoperative and moistening positions, and is moved between the two positions by the action of a cam rotating with the printing means.

The container for the liquid is also mounted for pivotal movement between a normal position and a filling position in which an inlet is located on top of the container in an easily accessible position. During angular movement of the container, the absorbent pad thereon is moved substantially perpendicularly to the axis of, and away from the pad of the moistening device.

Preferably, the absorbent felt pad on the container is urged by springs, or by the weight of the container against an end portion of the absorbent felt pad of the moistening device.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the container is provided with valve means for admitting air so that the liquid freely flows out of the outlets of the container and into the absorbent felt pad. The air valve, or several air valves, are operated by a cam rotating with the duplicating roller of the machine.

It is advantageous to mount the cam follower which transmits the motion of the cam to the air valve, on an adjustable eccentric member so that the degree of opening of the air valve can be adjusted whereby the amount of liquid discharged from the outlets of the container is influenced.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional ob jects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially in section, with one wall of the machine omitted, and illustrating a duplicating machine provided with the moistening arrangement of the invention;

Fig. 2. is a plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating a detail of the moistening arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawing schematically illustrates a standard duplicating machine provided with the moistening arrangement of the invention, parts of the machine which have no bearing on the invention being omitted for the sake of clarity and simplicity.

A shaft 1 is mounted on the housing walls 2 and 3 and turnably supports a duplicating or printing roller 4 which carries a master sheet 8, and can be rotated with shaft 1 by a drive means, not shown. Duplicating roller 4 cooperates with a counterpressure roller 7 and forms with the same a bight to which a copy sheet 6 is supplied by the operator of the machine on a supply table 5 so that the advanced copy sheet 6 enters the bight between the duplicating roller 4 and the counterpressure roller 7 and is transported by the same through the printing plane AB passing through the axes of shaft 1 and of counterpressure roller 7.

A cam 29 is secured to duplicating roller 4 by attaching means 27 and 28 and revolves about the axis of shaft 1. Another cam 22 is secured to shaft 1..

A container 9 is mounted for angular movement about a shaft 10 which is carried by the side walls 2 and 3. The normal working position of container 9 is shown in FIG. 1, but when container 9 is tilted to a filling position, inlet means 13 is located on top of the container in a position suitable for filling the container with a liquid required for moistening copy sheet 6 before the printing.

Container 9 has outlet means including a transverse bar 14 with outlet nozzles through which liquid flows from the container to a first absorbent moistening means in the form of a felt pad 16 which is secured to container 9 by a support member 15. At least one side wall of container 9 has two arresting recesses 12 engaged by a leaf spring 11 secured to side wall 3 so that the container is arrested in the nonnal position as well as in the filling position.

Liquid from container 9 is absorbed by felt pad 16 and applied by the same to a second absorbent moistening means in the form of a felt pad 17 which is secured to, and part of a tiltable moistening device 19 supported by a shaft 18 for angular movement.

Moistening device 19 has a normal inoperative position in which felt pad 17 is spaced from a copy sheet 6 on supply table 5, and a moistening position in which the end portion of felt pad 19, which has the same transverse width as the copy sheet, moistens the copy sheet while the same is transported by the cooperating printing rollers 4 and 7.

Springs 40 secured to side walls 2 and 3 engage support 15 and urge felt pads 16 and 17 into contact with each other, and the pressure is preferably further increased by mounting the container 9 in such a manner on shaft 10 that it tends to turn with felt pad 16 toward felt pad 1.7 so that the latter constitutes a stop limiting turning movement of container 9 in clockwise direction.

Due to the tight and firm contact between the two felt pads, liquid is transferred from felt pad 16 to felt pad 17 and due to the absorbent properties of the felt pads, the end of felt pad 17 which cooperates with the copy sheet is sufficiently moist to assure a proper moistening of copy sheet 6. The relative position of moistening device 19 with moistening pad 17, and container 9 with moistening pad 16 is such that the pads remain in liquid transferring contact in both angularly tilted positions of moistening device 19.

Moistening device 19 has a wall 20 with a hook-shaped portion connected by spring 24 to a stationary pin 23. Spring 24 urges moistening device 19 with moistening pad 17 to turn about shaft 18 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, but in the position of rest illustrated in FIG. 1, a roller 21 on a cam follower arm portion of wall 20 of moistening device 19 abuts the end portion of cam 22 so that the end portion of moistening pad 17 is held spaced from a copy sheet 6 on supply table 5.

The upper portion of container 9 is provided with a valve means 26 including a valve member urged by a spring 34 into a position closing openings in the valve body so that no air can enter the container in the closed position of the valve, and consequently no liquid can flow out of the outlets in the lower portion of the container.

The actuating part of valve member 25 cooperates with a stud 33 on a cam follower means 31 adjustably mounted on an eccentric supporting means 32 which can be manually adjusted. Cam follower means 31 carries a pin located in a vertical slot in side wall 3 and limiting the angular movement of cam follower means 31, and the stroke of stud 33 can be adjusted by turning the shaft of the eccentric supporting means 32. Dependent on the stroke of stud 33, valve member 25 is more or less opened and the amount of air which can enter container 9 is varied so that the amount of liquid flowing out of container 9 and into the absorbent pads 16 and 17 can be adapted to obtaining just the right amount of moisture on a copy sheet 6.

When duplicating roller 4 turns out of the position of rest illustrated in FIG. 1, roller 23 is released by stop cam 22 which turns with drive shaft 1, and spring 24 turns moistening device 19 in counterclockwise direction about shaft 18 to a moistening position in which the free forward end of absorbent applicator pad 17 is in contact with copy sheet 6.

The amount of liquid flowing through the outlet nozzle bar 14 into the absorbent felt pads and onto the copy sheet depends on the amount of air permitted by valve means 25, 26, 34 to enter container 9.

During rotation of duplicating roller 4, cam 29 engages a concave recessed cam portion of cam follower means 31 and turns the same about the eccentric supporting means 32 so that stud 33 depresses valve member 25 and opens the valve so that air enters the container, and liquid flows out of the same.

The operator inspects the amount of moisture applied to a copy sheet 6, and adjusts the eccentric supporting means 32 by turning the eccentric disc thereof on which cam follower means 31 is supported, so that the amount of air entering through valve 25, 26 into container 9 is varied, and the amount of liquid flowing out of absorbent pad 17 onto copy sheet 6 is adjusted in accordance with the prevailing conditions.

The axis of shaft 18 and the positions of the absorbent pads 16 and 17 are such that surfaces of pads 16 and 17 remain in liquid transferring contact in the inoperative and moistening positions of moistening device 19, and also during movement of moistening device 19 toward and away from the copy sheet 6. FIG. 3 shows the inoperative position of moistening device 19 in solid lines, and the moistening position in chain lines. During angular movement of moistening device 19, the rear end of absorbent pad 17 moves along a circular path, and absorbent pad 16 is disposed substantially tangential to this path so that liquid transferring surfaces of pads 16 and 17 remain in contact during angular displacement of moistening device 19. The outlet openings in container 9 are arranged in a row parallel to the axis of shaft 18 so that throughout the width of the moistening pad 16 and the cooperating portion of moistening pad 17, substantially the same amount of liquid is discharged from the container.

The position of shaft 10 and of absorbent pad 16 on container 9 is such that pad 16 moves away from pad 17 in a direction substantially perpendicular to shaft 18 when container 9 is turned to the filling position in which inlet 13 is located on top of the container.

it will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of duplicating machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a moistening device for a duplicating machine in which a moistening liquid is supplied to a copy sheet through a plurality of absorbent pads which are in contact with each other irrespective of the position of the moistening means, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

I claim:

1. in a duplicating machine including printing means for printing on moistened copy sheets, and means for supplying copy sheets to said printing means, in combination, a moistening arrangement comprising supporting means; container means for a liquid mounted on said supporting means and having outlet means; first absorbent moistening means secured to said container means in the region of said outlet means for receiving and absorbing said liquid; a moistening device including a second absorbent moistening means; mounting means mounting said moistening device for movement relative to said container means and said first moistening means along a path between an inoperative position, and a moistening position in which said second moistening means is in contact with a copy sheet supplied, to said printing means, said first moistening means being secured to said container means in a position extending substantially along said path so that said first and second moistening means remain in contact in said inoperative and moistening positions and during movement of said moistening device between said inoperative and moistening positions; and means for moving said moistening device between said inoperative and moistening positions.

2. Moistening arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes means for mounting said container means for movement between a normal working position and a displaced position; and wherein said first moistening means extends in said normal working position along said path, and is spaced in said displaced position from said path and said second moistening means.

3. Moistening arrangement as claimed in claim 2 and comprising spring means engaging said container means for urging said first absorbent moistening means into contact with said second absorbing moistening means.

4. Moistening arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means mount said moistening device on said supporting means for angular movement between said inoperative and moistening positions about an axis so that said second moistening means moves along a part-circular path; comprising means controlled by said printing means for moving said moistening device between said inoperative and moistening positions; and wherein said first moistening means is secured to said container means in a position extending substantially tangentially to said part-circular path.

5. Moistening arrangement as"claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes means for mounting said container means for pivotal movement about a first axis between a normal working position and a displaced position; wherein said moistening device is mounted for pivotal movement about a second axis along a part-circular path; wherein said first moistening means is secured to said container in such a position relative to said first axis that said first moistening means moves transverse to said second axis and away from said second moistening means when said container means is moved to said displaced position; and wherein said first moistening means extends in said normal working position of said container means tangentially to said part-circular path.

6. Moistening arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein said container means has a filling opening; and wherein said filling opening is located substantially on top of said container means when the same is in said displaced position so that the same is a filling position.

7. Moistening arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container means is closed and includes valve means for the admission of air so that liquid flows from said container means through said outlet means into said first moistening means only when said valve means are open; wherein said printing means is mounted on said supporting means for rotation; and comprising means rotated by said printing means for opening said valve means at least once during each revolution of said printing means.

8. Moistening arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein said valve means include an actuating part; comprising adjustable eccentric supporting means, cam follower means mounted on said eccentric support means and cooperating with said actuating part of said valve means; and wherein said printing means include a rotary cam for operating said cam follower means at least once during each revolution so as to open said valve means to a degree depending on the adjusted position of said eccentric supporting means.

9. In a duplicating machine including printing means for printing on moistened copy sheets, and means for supplying copy sheets to said printing means. in combination, a moistening arrangement comprising supporting means; container means for a liquid mounted on said supporting means for free angular movement about an axis, and having outlet means, and a center of gravity located on one side of said axis; first absorbent moistening means secured to said container means in the region of said outlet means for receiving and absorbing said liquid; a moistening device including a second absorbent moistening means; mounting means mounting said moistening device for movement relative to said container means and said first moistening means along a path between an inoperative position, and a moistening position in which said second moistening means is in contact with a copy sheet supplied to said printing means, said first moistening means being secured to said container means in a position extending substantially along said path so that the force of gravity urges said container means to a position in which said first moistening means abuts and presses against said second moistening means to assure transfer of said liquid and whereby said first and second moistening means remain in contact in said inoperative and moistening positions and during movement of said moistening device between said inoperative and moistening positions; and means for moving said moistening device between said, in operative and moistening positions. 

